In what one might call an exemplar of how to exercise care and compassion when writing a law enforcement press release, whoever has that job in the Mason County, Michigan Sheriff’s office prefaced a tragic discovery by writing that the early Sunday search for two men on snowmobiles, earlier reported missing in the Sheridan Township area, first zeroed in on a set of the vehicles’ tracks leading onto the surface of a frozen lake that did not have tracks leading out of it.

“Due to darkness and heavy snow falling a check of the lake from shore could not be performed. At first light, what appeared to be a snowmobile helmet was seen out several hundred yards offshore on the ice. The Mason County Sheriff’s Office launched a drone when weather permitted and spotted a hole in the ice and confirmed a helmet present at the spot of the hole. Rescuers attempted to get to the area, but kept falling through the ice, make rescue efforts impossible,” the release said, making it sound like they really tried to effect a “rescue” after God knows how long.

“The Michigan State Police Dive Services Team and Mason County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team were called to assistand made their way onto the ice. An airboat from the Manistee County Sheriff’s Office was requested to support recovery efforts and did respond to the scene. Once assets were in place to ensure the safety of divers, efforts began to get to the hole in the ice. An MSP diver fell through the ice, but was properly tethered to another diver, and was pulled from the ice unharmed.”

“During this operation the victims were both found. Law enforcement recovered the bodies of a 65-year-old Grand Haven MI man along with a 49-year-old Grand Haven MI man. Both bodies were recovered in approximately 6′ of water. Two snowmobiles were also found submerged under the ice.”

The press release then credits all the other agencies involved. No word on when if ever the snowmobiles themselves will be removed from their shallow watery grave.